Sewing Machine Accessory Bible - Softcover

A Cookie Wendy Gardiner

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844486877 ISBN 13: 9781844486878

Publisher: Search, 2011

Synopsis

Unusual book

About this title

About the Author:

Wendy Gardiner is a sewing guru! She has been editor of various sewing titles for many years, and for the last ten years editor of Sewing World, Britain's leading sewing magazine. She loves everything to do with sewing by machine and has recently presented six DVDs on the subject. Keen to promote sewing as a fun, affordable hobby, she is also co-manager of the ISEW website, a magazine resource site packed with sewing projects and techniques and backed by leading companies in the sewing industry. Wendy also continues to run creative sewing weekends. Lorna Knight specialized in textiles at Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh. After working as a designer's assistant, she spent ten years teaching Design and Technology in middle schools in the UK before setting up a business designing and making lingerie and running workshops teaching a wide range of sewing skills. She continues to run workshops which involve passing on hints and tips from both the couture and high street fashion worlds, enabling her students to create their own garments and projects. Lorna also writes regularly for Sewing World magazines and has contributed to many sewing books and other fashion sewing publications.

Review:

Most of us have an ordinary sewing machine. It can be basic, mid or top range with lots of potential we've probably never unleashed. This book shows us how you can get the most out of our machine, simply by changing feet. We learn how to work with all fabrics, even the most slippery and stretchy and discover great time-saving tricks such as easy zippers and buttonholes. Filled with help and advice, there's also a useful guide for those considering upgrading or buying a machine for the first time. This one is essential reading.-Machine Knitting Monthly How well do you really know your sewing machine? This book will help you get the most out of yours, and enhance your knowledge of what you can do with it. I do like the way this book is likened by its authors to a deli sandwich, with a wrapping of machine know-how and a tasty filling of all the possibilities of what you can do with the attachments. In grand old Search Press style the book starts with an overview of how to use it, and then it jumps in with both feet (pardon the pun) to the good stuff. You will be pleased to know that if you own any type of sewing machine you will probably already have the basic kit (all the bare necessities of sewing) . Get to know the anatomy of a sewing machine needle and all he different types, what needles and stitches to use on what fabrics and what to do with all the basic feet that come with your machine. There are other more exciting feet out there too, ones that make light work of difficult fabrics and tasks, and ones that do delightful things like stitching flowers or sewing on pearling. Finishing off is a handy buyer's guide to various types of machines, a glossary and a troubleshooting section for when things go wrong. I do like a book that states what it is on the cover and this does just that and in fine style. A keeper for the shelf of any serious stitcher.-Myshelf.com This is an attractive, well presented and practical book, that will be of interest to not only the novice sewer - pondering the basic feet attachments acquired with a new sewing machine, but also 'lapsed' sewers, out of touch with what's available. As the authors say in their introduction, 'You don't have to have a top of the range model to use all these wonderful sewing aids - lots of these glorious feet can be used on even the most basic machines. They are not all just about specialist techniques - many of these feet help to perform basic sewing techniques or simply feed the fabric evenly and smoothly as you sew'. Other useful topics covered in the book include acquiring a practical selection of sewing tools, suggested optional extras, choosing the right machine needle for the project and a machine and overlocker buying guide.-Sew Today If you know your sewing machine inside out and are familiar with all its working parts, this is not the book for you. But for the rest of the people, who may have a machine and be completely comfortable with the mechanics of sewing but not the mechanics of the machine, this could prove useful. The books takes you through an introduction to types of fabrics and their qualities, the different feet attachments, and using fancy stitching. The majority of the book concentrates on the different feet you can get and how to use them with your machine and I found it refreshing to see a book concentrating on this aspect. I am prone to use my straight stitch foot and free machining one and look upon the others as though from another planet. However, the clear and helpful descriptions here gave me a bit of hope that one day, I might create a buttonhole properly, or sew a button on without having to do it manually! The book doesn't really cover any other areas, so if you are interested in finding out more about tension or foot pressure, then this is not covered, but if the feet is what you need to know about, then look no further.-Workshop on the Web It begins with an introduction to the basic parts of a sewing machine, as the same components are common to all machines. There is an excellent picture chart on needles but the main topic is the variety of feet available, 25 in all, each performing a different function. Every foot is described and photographed 'in action', for example, the walking foot has four pages showing how it controls the gripping feet, walking over the fabrics rather than sliding as do other feet. There are instructions on suitable stitch lengths and suggestions for its use in quilting, on thick piled fabrics and with twin needles. A buyer's guide offers sound advice on choosing a suitable machine for an individual's needs. An extremely useful resource book.-Patchwork & Quilting There are lots of different gadgets and accessories available for sewing machines, but do we need them all? As with kitchen gizmos, it's all too easy to succumb to the sort of bits and pieces that are used once and then languish in a cupboard. But, if you don't look at what's available, you could be missing out on something that would make your life easier or encourage you to try a new technique. Simply by changing the foot, you may be able to get more out of your sewing machine. Many machines come with a few basic feet, but if you're into making soft furnishings, maybe it's time to consider a piping foot or a ruffle foot. If you're going to be doing some machine quilting, a walking foot or stitch-in-the-ditch foot could be a good buy. For decorative stitching, think about an open-toed foot or an embroidery/darning foot - and for a bit of fun, there's always a flower attachment that stitches lovely decorative circles. The book looks at 29 different feet, and every one is fully explained with easy-to-follow instructions (and photographs) to demonstrate how to get the most out of it. There are also lots of useful tips for using gadgets such as a bias binder maker - and, if you're thinking of getting a new machine, you'll fine the 'Buyer's Guide' very useful.-Stitch Whether you are a beginner or have been sewing for years, this book is packed with all the information you need to get the most out of your sewing machine, simply by changing the feet. This reference guide shows you how to work effortlessly with a full range of fabrics, plus some great time-saving tips and a wealth of information about needle, thread and fabric choices. There is also buying advice for choosing basic, mid-range and top-end sewing machines, and embellishers and over-lockers making this an all-round excellent resource and information guide.-Fabrications An attractive, well presented and practical book that will be of interest to not only the novice sewer - pondering the basic feet attachments acquired with a new sewing machine, but also 'lapsed' sewers out of touch with what's available. As the authors say in their introduction, 'You don't have to have a top of the range model to use all these wonderful sewing aids - lots of this glorious feet can be used on even the most basic machines'. Other useful topics covered include acquiring a practical selection of sewing tools, suggested optional extras, choosing the right machine needle for the project, and a machine and overlocker buying guide.-Sew Today

About this edition

• Publisher: Search
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1844486877
• ISBN 13: 9781844486878
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128